Leitchfield, Kentucky
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Leitchfield is a city located in Grayson County, Kentucky. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,139. It is the county seat of Grayson CountyTemplate:GR.
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Geography
KYMap-doton-Leitchfield.PNG
Location of Leitchfield, Kentucky
Leitchfield is located at 37°29'1" North, 86°17'38" West (37.483690, -86.293840)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.8 km² (8.8 mi²). 22.7 km² (8.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.34% water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 6,139 people, 2,485 households, and 1,615 families residing in the city. The population density is 270.3/km² (700.1/mi²). There are 2,797 housing units at an average density of 123.1/km² (319.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 96.63% White, 1.56% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 2,485 households out of which 33.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.1% are married couples living together, 17.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 35.0% are non-families. 30.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.34 and the average family size is 2.89.
In the city the population is spread out with 25.5% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $26,108, and the median income for a family is $32,398. Males have a median income of $27,958 versus $18,958 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,033. 21.3% of the population and 17.5% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 31.5% of those under the age of 18 and 16.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Media
The city of Leitchfield is served by two newspapers, The Grayson County News-Gazette [1] (http://www.gcnewsgazette.com) and The Record.
Leitchfield's radio stations are 104.9 WKHG-FM, a.k.a. K105 [2] (http://www.k105.com), which is a Top 40 station and 870 WMTL-AM [3] (http://www.k105.com/wmtl/wmtl.html), which plays Bluegrass music. Both stations are owned by Heritage Media of Kentucky.
Education
- Grayson County High School [4] (http://www.grayson.k12.ky.us/gchs/)
- Grayson County Middle School [5] (http://www.grayson.k12.ky.us/gcms/)
Leitchfield is also home to three elementary schools.
- H.W. Wilkey Elementary School [6] (http://www.grayson.k12.ky.us/wilkey/)
- Oran P. Lawler Elementary School [7] (http://www.grayson.k12.ky.us/lawler/)
- Leitchfield Christian Academy [8] (http://www.forministry.com/uskysobcofbc5)
Festivals and Events
Every year, Leitchfield plays host to the Grayson County Fair. The County Fair, which begins the week before Labor Day, features a Demolition Derby, rides, truck and tractor pulls, field crop contests and a beauty pageant. The County Fair officially ends on Labor Day with the traditional Labor Day parade.
What started as an ice cream social on the county square in 1992 has turned into a weekend-long festival. Every July, the Ice Cream Festival, now planned and operated by K105, features a beauty pageant, rides, games, a mixed doubles tennis tournament and the largest fireworks show in the area. At 6pm on the Saturday of the festival, free cups of ice cream are given to festival attendees. Each year, the fireworks show is given a theme. Recent themes include "Stars and Stripes Forever" and "Television Classics".
Each July, the Grayson County Agricultural Recreation Park in Leitchfield hosts the Grayson County 4-H and FFA Ag Fair. The event features farm and youth events and exhibits such as tractor driving contests, homemaker exhibits, and sheep, hog, horse, dairy and beef shows.